At Gov. Ron DeSantis’s instigation, Florida university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues issued a memo Tuesday, Oct. 24 ordering a “crackdown” on campus events led by the Students for Justice in Palestine organization. The order directed state universities to disband any group tied to the National SJP, labeling it as linked to Hamas, and thereby aiding terrorism.
The timing of the order was clear: One day before a national walkout had been called for college campuses across the United States to protest against the siege and genocide now being carried out in Palestine. Those peaceful protests were held on campuses in many states, and also in numerous high schools. They were dominated by calls for an immediate ceasefire, provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza who have been cut off from water, fuel, medicines and food, and the creation of a Palestinian state. Students for Justice in Palestine chapters reportedly played a leading role in organizing those protests.
No measures were specified to be taken under the Florida memo if someone fails to comply with the order, but the hounds are demanding more action. Politico reports that Florida’s only Jewish Republican state lawmaker, state Rep. Randy Fine, is pushing for university leaders to penalize anti-Israel dissent on state campuses, and reported in that context that Rodrigues said on Oct. 25 that future “measures could include necessary adverse employment actions and suspensions for school officials.”
